Onward! Encouragement For the New Year

…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13b-14

I love the New Years holiday.  And the thing I love about the New Year is also one of the things I love about the Christian life.  You keep going.  And you keep going forward.

If you had a bad year last year, New Years is a chance to start out strong and have a better year than you did last year.  If you had a great year last year, you can keep it going and have an even better year this year.  I once heard a man of God say that “the Christian life is a life of new beginnings.”  And I think that is true.  If you failed in your Christian walk yesterday, or last year, confess it to the Lord.  Accept His forgiveness and move forward for Him.  Ask Him to help you do better today or this year.

Paul says here in Philippians that he is “forgetting those things which are behind.”  That is what we have to do.  If we have failed, we forget it and move forward for the Lord.  If we have succeeded, we forget it and move forward for the Lord.  If we constantly dwell on our past failures, we will be constantly defeated by them and we will not move forward for Him.  If we constantly dwell on our successes, we become proud and complacent and we will not move forward for Him.  There is a place for remembering our successes and failures, but there is no place for dwelling on them.  Our failures keep us humble and remind us of His mercy.  Our successes keep us working and remind us of His grace.  But we are supposed to keep moving forward, no matter where we are.

In verse 14, Paul tells us that He is pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God.  He is pressing forward.  That is what we need to do in this coming year.  Last year is over.  We no longer have last year.  We have this year.  Let’s make it the best one we have had.  Let’s allow the Lord to make this year what He wants to make it in our lives.

Have a wonderful New Year!  Onward for the Lord!

Jesus Loves Me (Hymn)

Jesus Loves Me
Anna Bartlett Warner (1860)

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Refrain

Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.

Refrain

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Refrain

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.

Refrain

This might be the most famous Christian song out there.  It’s usually thought of as a children’s song, but the message in it is a great one.  We do know that Jesus loves us and we know it because the Bible tells us so.  He did bleed and die for us and we should live for Him.  We shouldn’t relegate this one to a children’s church service, but should remember it and make it our own.

Beyond Compassion

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still.  And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.  And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak.  And he delivered him to his mother.

Luke 7:12-15

Yesterday we looked at this passage and at the compassion shown by our Saviour to this grieving woman.  Today, we will look at what the Lord Jesus did after showing compassion.

The Lord set an important example for us when it says that He noticed this grieving woman and that He had compassion on her.  Both of those are things that we need to work on.  We need to learn to recognize when others are grieving or hurting. And we need to learn to have compassion on them.  But having compassion isn’t just feeling sorry for someone.  It isn’t just giving them a shoulder to cry on.  True compassion runs even deeper.

In this passage, the Lord Jesus showed His compassion by raising this widow’s son from the dead.  Obviously, we aren’t going to be able to do that, but we can do what we can to help people.  Showing compassion means not only seeing a need, but doing what is in our power to meet that need.  Sometimes a kind word and a sympathetic heart are all we can give.  But when we can go beyond that and help someone, we again need to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He Had Compassion

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.  And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still.  And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.  And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak.  And he delivered him to his mother.

Luke 7:12-15

In this passage, we find a widow (who had already lost her husband) who had just lost her only son.  She had “much people of the city with her,” no doubt trying to give her some measure of comfort.  It must have been a touching scene, and her sorrow was noticed by the Lord Jesus.  The Bible then tells us something about the character of Jesus Christ: when He saw her, “he had compassion on her…”  He was compassionate.  He saw a woman sorrowing over a legitimate loss and had compassion.

To be perfectly honest, He probably had “more important” work to do.  He was preparing to go to cross and take the entire sin debt of humanity on His shoulders.  He was preparing to take a barrage of everything that Hell and the Devil could throw at Him.  He was preparing to do His Father’s will.  This was just one grieving woman.  There have been many, many women throughout history who have lost husbands and sons.  She was not the first to go through this, nor would she be the last.  But those things did not matter.  Our Saviour had compassion.  The Lord Jesus Christ a woman with a need and had compassion on her.

We see people grieving and in distress every day.  How well are we following our Saviour’s example and having compassion on them?

Weathering the Storms

He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the streams did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Luke 6:48-49

In this passage on the building of houses on two different foundations, we see one of the differences in the foundations.  The solid foundation of faith in and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ makes on only a difference in eternity, but will make a huge difference in our earthly lives.

The storm and the flood came to both houses, but only one was able to withstand it.  In our lives, we are all going to have problems whether we are Christians or not.  Being a Christian isn’t a magic elixir that will eliminate all problems, trials and heartaches.  Christians have storms in their lives, just as non-Christians do.

The difference between the Christian and the non-believer is that the Christian has a foundation that stands sure.  The Christian is anchored to a Rock that is steadfast and unmoveable.  The Christian has a much easier time weathering the storms because of that foundation.

The non-believer has nothing to anchor himself to.  The life that he is trying to build is going to be destroyed by the storm because there is no solid foundation.  His foundation is shifting and moveable and is not going to stand.  It will be swept away by the storm.

The storms in our lives are going to come.  The question is: do we have the foundation to withstand them?

Which Foundation

He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.  But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the streams did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Luke 6:48-49

We can liken our lives to a man building a house.  In building a house, the first (and most important) aspect of building is laying a foundation.  In the housing industry, there are many houses that are fairly nice, but are falling apart due to lack of a good foundation.  It is the same with our lives.

Some people in the world are trying to build a nice house with their lives.  They are doing the best they can to live a “good” life.  They try to be honest, try to work hard, and try to be good people.  Usually, these kind of people are very nice people.  But, sadly, they are building on the wrong foundation.  They are building on the foundation of themselves.  That is always going to be a shaky foundation.

On the other hand, you have people who have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.  They have put Him as their foundation.  That is a life that will extent to eternity.  That is a life that will last.  That life has the correct foundation to withstand anything.  Even if a storm damages the “upper levels” of the house, the house built on a good foundation can be rebuilt.

The key in our lives is that we are building on the right foundation.  Are we?

Christmas

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)  To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy ,which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:1-14

Let us pause for a moment and thank God for sending us a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Merry Christmas to all who read this blog!

The Christmas Chapter, Pt. 12

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.

Luke 2:15-17

As we come to end of the “Christmas story” part of Luke 2, we come to the verses detailing what the shepherds did after going to worship the newborn King.  Verse 17 tells us that they “made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child.”  After being told of Jesus, finding Him and worshipping Him, they understood that they had a responsibility: a responsibility to tell others what they had seen.

We have that same responsibility, and nowhere should we see that more than at Christmas.  Around this time of year, even the godless world celebrates.  Of course, they have no idea what they are actually celebrating, but they celebrate nonetheless.  We know why we celebrate Christmas.  We are in a unique position to tell others about the true reason for Christmas.  We have seen the glory of the Lord.  We have experienced the salvation of the Lord.  We have worshipped the Saviour.  But there are others who have not.

The shepherds took the news they received and spread it abroad.  We should take the good news that we have received and spread it abroad.  There is a lost and dying world all around us that desperately needs the knowledge of the Saviour that we have.  After we celebrate Christmas in our own hearts, let us make sure that we share Jesus Christ with others, just as the shepherds did so very long ago.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Hymns)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Charles Wesley (1739)

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ in born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus our Emmanuel near.

Refrain

Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Refrain

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Refrain

Adam’s likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in it’s place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Refrain

This is probably my favourite Christmas song.  It has more doctrine than just about any other hymn I’ve come across.  It starts out with one of my favourite thoughts: “Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”  This part is what Christmas is all about to me: “Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die.”  That is what He did and that is why He came.

The Christmas Chapter, Pt. 11

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:12-14

When you think about Christmas, you think about impossibilities.  A virgin birth is impossible.  The creator God of the universe becoming a man and being born in a lowly stable is impossible.  That this world changing event would be heralded to mere shepherds is impossible.  The whole idea of God becoming man to redeem man from his rebellion against God is impossible.  The whole story is impossible.  That theme of impossibility is continued in verse 14 with the multitude of the heavenly host “praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The ideas  of peace on earth and good will toward men are, humanly speaking, impossibilities.  Everywhere we look today, countries are at war.  Nations, tribes and people have been fighting since the beginning of time.  There have been very few years of recorded history in which no wars have been fought.  Only through the finished work of Jesus Christ can we find peace, whether that be in our own souls or in the world.

Men are naturally selfish and greedy.  They do not naturally practice “goodwill toward men.”  They naturally bite and devour each other.  (Galatians 5:15)  Again, only through Jesus Christ can we find that “goodwill toward men.”  Jesus is the only cause for praising God and for giving Him glory and for proclaiming “peace on earth, good will toward men.”  Those are among the many reasons we celebrate Christmas.